What it means
Before a change begins, the expected observable result and verification method are recorded so that “done” does not depend on the implementer’s opinion.
Term in plain language
Acceptance criterion
A measurable condition agreed in advance that determines whether completed work passes or must be revised.
Why it matters
The criterion links a task to a test, lets automation stop a failed release and gives a reviewer clear evidence that the fix succeeded.
Example
After the fix, ten selected URLs return 200, contain no noindex directive, use self-referencing canonicals and pass a repeat crawl without the original issue.
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